Post for electric lamps



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W. MASON E. J. WESGOTT.

POST FOR ELEGITRIO LAMPS.

n w I UNITED STATES PATENT OF Fion WILLIAM B. MASON, OF BOSTON, AND EDWIN J. WESOOTT, OF HYDE PARK, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO THE NEW ENGLAND \VESTON ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

POST FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,189, dated October 11, 1881.

Application filed June 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM B. MAsoN, of Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, and EDWIN J. WESOOTT, of Hyde Park, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posts for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is directed to electric-lamp posts designed principally for street-lighting.

It is our object to obtain for this purpose a neat,inexpensive, and efficientstructure, which will support and hold firmly an electric lamp capable of being raised and lowered therein.

1 5 To this end we combine with a standard or column a frame erected upon said standard, whose side rods, made of some conducting material and insulated from one another, constitute guides or ways for an electric lamp, which is arranged to move up'and down between them, and also conductors for conveying the electric current to and out from the lamp, thus dispensing with the long lengths of slack cables or line-wires usuallyprovided for electric lamps 2 5 suspended from posts. With the conductorrods of the guide-frame, which forms the upper end of the post, is combined a switch, by the opening and closing of which the electric current can be caused to pass through the lamp when the latter is needed for illuminating purposes, or to be short-circuited through the guide-frame whenever it is desired to cut out the lamp for trimming or other purposes.

In the accompanying drawings we have rep- 3 5 resented an electric-lamp post embodying our invention in its preferred form.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of the post. Fig. 2 is a section on line 00 w, Fig.1, through one of the side rods of the guide- 40 frame.

A is a standard or column, made of suitable material, preferably of wood, whose lower end is to be planted in the ground or otherwise firmly secured or anchored, so that the column 5 will stand upright. The column may be of any convenient height-usually from seven to ten feet-so that the attendant who cares for the lamps can readily reach the top of the post by the aid of a short ladder. v

To the upper end of the column is fixed a guide-frame, consisting, in this instance, of vertical side rods, B, of metal or other conducting material, united at the bottom with the column A by means of brackets O, secured to opposite sides of the column, and secured and braced at the top by across connecting-bar, D, of wood or other proper material. The two rods B should be electrically insulated from one another, the insulation in this instance being effected through the interposition of the wooden column A and the upper wooden cross-bar, D.

The line-wires which supply the electric current are connected with the rods B by means of binding-screws at suitable points, a 1).

Within the guide-frame, which may be of any desired height, is placed an electric lamp, E, of any suitable type, which is movable up and down in the guide-frame, and is held and guided therein by means of the side rods or bars, B. To this end the side rods, 0, of the lamp are provided with latcrally-projectin g curved pieces 07,

which fit against and partially clasp or sur-- round the side rods, B. These pieces are preferably each formed of metal in two parts, as shown in Fig. 2, furnishing a split socket to enable it to be fitted upon the side rod, 0, of the lamp, a set-screw, f, being provided, whereby, after being fitted upon the rod 0, it may be clamped tightly in place. Electrical connection between the guide-frame and the lamp may be made by means of these guide feet or pieces (1; but inasmuch as they cannot be made to fit tightly against the rods B without danger of cramping action in moving the lamp up or down, they fit but loosely upon the rods B, and electrical connection is maintained between the latter and the lamp by means of spring conducting strips or fingers g, which are attached to the parts at and bear with yielding pressure against the guide-rods B.

The electric current passes from one of the guide-rods B, and enters the lamp by way of thelamp-terminalat thatside. It thencepasses through the lamp in the usual way, thence out from the other terminal of the lamp through the opposite guide-rod B, and thence to the line-wire.

In order to cut out the lamp whenever desired, we provide a switch, F, of proper construction, at the base of the guide-frame, in a position where it can conveniently be reached by the attendant. By means of this switch electric connection can be made directly be tween the lower ends of the frame, in which event the current will pass through the frame only, and the lamp will be out out.

Any convenient and proper means for raising and lowering and suspending in position the lamp can be employed. The means represented in the rresentinstance consist of cords or lines It, made fast to opposite sides of the lamp-top and passing: up over sheaves i on the cross-bar D, and thence down through the hollow side rods, B, to a cleat,j, on the column or base A. One rope or cord may manifestly be used instead of two.

Having described our improvements, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A post for electric lamps consisting of a standard or base, combined with aguide-frame thereon, whose sides, insulated from one another and in electric connection with the linewire, constitute guides for an electric lamp and conductors through which the electriecurrent is conveyed to and out from said lamp, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In an electric-lamp post, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the switch, the supporting standard or column, and the electric-lamp guide-frame thereon, provided with side rods for the guidance of the lamp, insulated from one another and in electrical connection with the line-wire.

3. An electric-lamp post whose upper portion consists of a frame having vertical sides insulated from one another and electrically connected with the line-wire, in combination with a vertically-movable electric lamp, fitting between and guided by said sides, and aving its terminals in electric connection therewith, a switch, whereby the electric current may be short-circuited through the guide-frame, and means whereby the lamp may be raised, lowered, and suspended at any desired height in the guideframe, substan tially as l'iereinbet'ore set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 22d day of June, 1881.

\VILLIAM B. MASON. EDWIN J. \VESCOTT.

Witnesses:

JAs. W. CHAPMAN. RUFUS S. MERRILL. 

